Lesson 5.2: Cultural, Social, and Political Institutions

Kinship

a social institution that defines relationship between members of society

Consanguineal kinship

Kinship by blood; relationship is achieved by birth or blood affinity.

Descent

refers to a biological relationship.

Lineage

refers to the line where one’s descent is traced.

Principles of Descent

Kinship is studied by analyzing relationships between individuals.

Unilineal Descent

Descent is typically traced through a single ancestral line

Patrilineal

both males and females belong to their father’s kin group, but not their mothers; only males pass on their family identity to their children.

Matrilineal

traces ancestry through the females line; only females pass on their family identity.

Bilateral Descent

descent is traced through the study of both parents’ ancestors.

Ego

refers to the person to whom kinship relationships are referred to and that has no specific gender.

Affinal kinship

based on marriage and creates new social relationship between spouses and their families.

Endogamy

is the practice of marrying within one’s own group.

Exogamy

requires individuals to marry outside their group.

Monogamy

refers to the marriage or sexual partnering custom or practice where an individual has only one male or female partner or mate.

Polygamy

refers to the practice of having more that one partner or sexual mate.

Polygyny

a man has multiple female partners or mates

Polyandry

a woman has multiple male partners and mates.

Patrilocal rule of residence

occurs when married couples stay in the house of the husband’s relatives or near the husband’s kin.

Matrilocal rule of residence

happens when the couple live with the wife’s relatives or near the wife’s kin

Biological residence

happens when the newlywed alternately stay with the husband’s and wife’s relatives.

Referred marriage

the use of matchmakers, who help introduce potential partners.

Arranged marriage

marriages are arranged by someone else to ensure union aligns with the family.

Child marriage

when the parents arrange for the marriage of their child long before the marriage takes place

Exchange marriage

there is reciprocal exchange of spouses between two countries, tribes, or groups.

Diplomatic marriage

occurs when an arranged marriage has been established between two royal or political families in order to forge political or diplomatic alliances.

Modern arranged marriage

the child’s parents, with the child’s consent, select potential partners.

Compadrazgo or godparenthood

individuals, chosen by their bio parents, become the child’s spiritual parents through Catholic rituals.

Nuclear Family

made up of a group of people who are united by social ties, made up of married couple and their children

Extended Family

goes beyond the nuclear family (Relatives)

Blended Family

parents have a child or children from previous marital relationships.